U Ba Win, Saw San Po Thin and U Ba Gyan joined the government later. Bogyoke Aung San, Sao Sam Htun, Thakin Mya, Mahn Ba Khaing, Deedoke Ba Choe, Sayagyi Mr Razak and U Ba Win succumbed to assassination on the 19th July 1947. Some of his cabinet members were away and a few had hairy escapes by a few minutes. Out of the 12 original Members of Aung San’s Union Cabinet only two are at present serving the government. The Sama Duwa after having been in and out of the government is at present in the government. Vum Ko Hau is permanent envoy of the Union. Another Aung San cabinet member U Kyaw Nyein is leader of the AFPFL but is at present leading a private life.

As drafting of the Constitution progressed with the private meetings in Bogyoke’s residence and other places including of course the Constituent assembly itself more and more measures of formal powers were handed over to the Counsellors. Before his death Bogyoke Aung San had held many of his own provisional cabinets presided by himself although formally he was still Deputy Chairman. State affairs councils were formally authorised. Bogyoke Aung San considered that cabinet meetings which also dispose of routine subjects were not sufficient to discuss such big questions as Union question with the Frontier cabinet members and he used to call special cabinet meetings at his residence where he could entertain them.

When Bogyoke Aung San, the Washington of Burma was felled by the assassins’ bullets the Governor of Burma Sir Hubert Rance invited Thakin Nu, Vice President of AFPFL and currently speaker of the Constituent assembly to take over Bogyoke’s mantle.

Eight non-members of the constituent assembly were co-opted. They were Sir Mya Bu, Sir Maung Gyee, Justice Sir Ba U, Justice U E Maung, Mr M.A. Rashid, Professors U Wun, U Myo Min, and U Thein Han of the Rangoon University.

Delegates to the Nu-Attlee Treaty

For the signing of the historic Nu-Attlee Agreement (Anglo-Burmese Treaty) the following Cabinet Ministers represented the Union of Burma.

1. Hon’ble Thakin Nu, Prime Minister.
2. Hon’ble Sao Hkun Hkio, Shari Minister.
3. Hon’ble Vum Ko Hau, Chin Minister.
4. Hon’ble Bo Letya, Defence Minister.
5. Hon’ble U Tin Tut, Minister without portfolio.
6. Hon’ble Mahn Win Maung, Minister for labour.

Subjects concerning the Frontier Areas and other minorities of Burma were hotly debated in the British parliament in those days. The Secretary of State for India and Burma Lord Pethick Lawrence in a Statement in the House of Lords on the 28th Jan 1947 says “With regard to the Frontier Areas we have given very definite pledges to the people of these areas. Ultimate unification of the Frontier Areas and Burma proper has always been our policy, but, and in this the delegation are in agreement with us, whatever action is taken must be in accordance with their wishes and with their free consent”.-

The Frontier Areas peoples were represented by two Cabinet Ministers the Honble Sao Hkun Hkio and the Honble U Vum Ko Hau, the Shan and the Chin Ministers respectively. The two cabinet ministers were also nominated for talks with H M G on the Defense and Financial agreements and they both left Burma one month ahead of Prime Minister Thakin Nu. Other officials who accompanied the delegation as advisers were Justice E Maung, U Ko Ko Gyi, Bo Aung, Labang Grong and U Zin.

Burma’s independence treaty was signed at the famed No. 10 Downing Street by Honble Thakin Nu and the Rt Honble Mr. C. R. Attlee in the presence of the above national leaders of the Union on the 17th day of October 1947.

Aside from their proven national political leadership in the foundation of the Union of Burma some members of Bogyoke Aung San’s cabinet took interest in other spheres of life. Bogyoke Aung San himself had an interest in writing and had begun an autobiography in Burmese before his premature demise. Deedoke Ba Choe had been a printer, publisher, a musician and an artist. Sao Sam Htun was a cattle breeder of repute and his cattle used to carry off -many prizes at the local cattle shows in the Shan States.

Vum Ko Hau contributed learned articles on various topics to magazines and newspapers and is a noted bibliophile on Southeast Asia. Beside writing he is interested in the arts, culture, language and anthropological science. Sinwa Naw who had monastic education beside being a sugar planter spent great energy’ in his attempt to encourage the manufacture of motor vehicle and mineral production. U Tin Tut who ran a newspaper publishing house and had become a brigadier of the UMP was assassinated just before he left for London to become high commissioner. U Kyaw Nyein is one of the very few political leaders who owns a sizable private library. Like the Sama Duwa he takes interest in industries.

During the government of Honble Thakin Nu, two more persons U Ko Ko Syi and Bo Po Kun joined the cabinet. Pyawbwe U Mya is dead. Bo Letya is doing business. Mahn Win Maung is President of the Union. Bo Po Kun, Saw San Po Thin and U Ko Ko Gyi were in and more or less but of the limelight.

After the lapse of 15 years, among the members of the original Aung San Cabinet, only three persons namely Sama Duwa Sinwa Naw, U Vum Ko Hau and U Kyaw Nyein appear to be still active in the political and public service of the Union.

Yawwun